Such a shame. Gerrard’s stint as England’s full-time captain will be over as soon as Rio Ferdinand returns to full fitness and you get the sense he won’t miss some of the circus that surrounds the role.

This has been an annus horribilus for Fabio Capello, given he has had to deal with so many sordid issues as well as the debacle of the World Cup campaign.

With Ferdinand having missed so many games with injury, Gerrard has been thrust into the firing line for much of 2010 but he has handled himself impeccably in difficult situations.

Gerrard emerged from the trip to South Africa with his reputation intact and has only gone on to enhance it in the last couple of months.

Speaking with honesty and intelligence – not to mention commanding instant respect and leading by example – he has embodied every quality with which you would wish to associate an England captain.

Fortunately, however, those endearing qualities will remain on show at Anfield.